Double-acting finger mechanism for primary folding station of newspaper folding and wrapping machine



Dec. 24, 1968 w. w. HANNON ETAL 3,417,987

DOUBLE'ACTING FINGER MECHANISM FOR PRIMARY FOLDING STATION 0? NEWSPAPERFOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS War/e M flay/20x2 Chan/e5 M //d/7/70/7 c- 24, 1968 w. w.HANNON ETAL 3,417,987

DOUBLE-ACTING FINGER MECHANISM FOR PRIMARY FOLDING STATION 0F NEWSPAPERFOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1.8, 1966 26 v/v Lg.

INVENTORS War/w? M./ flan/7o Chan/es M Han/ran United States Patent 03,417,987 DOUBLE-ACTING FINGER MECHANISM FOR PRIMARY FOLDING STATION OFNEWS- PAPER FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Warren W. Hannon, 501 S.Chestnut, ()lathe, Kans. 66061, and Charles N. Hannon, Olathe, Kans.;said Charles N. Hannon assignor to said Warren W. Hannon Filed July 18,1966, Ser. No. 565,913 3 Claims. (Cl. 27061) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREIn a newspaper folding and wrapping machine, a presser finger isprovided having two spaced pivotal joints that permit the free end ofthe finger to move either toward or away from a folded, compositenewspaper unit which such end engages during operation of the machine.The two sections of the finger thus formed are yieldably biased inopposite directions against stops which normally prevent movement of thefinger under either biasing force.

The instant invention relates to apparatus for folding and tyingindividual newspapers and particularly relates to the combination withsuch apparatus of double-acting finger mechanism for maintaining afolded paper, with or without a wrapper therearound, in a foldedcondition to insure proper further wrapping even if the paper isimproperly folded at the first folding station, or the trailing edge ofa wrapper around the folded paper is excessively long.

In the folding machine shown in US. Patent No. 3,161,- 000, newspapersto be folded are sequentially removed from a hopper therefor, directedonto a folding platform, folded in half by a tucker blade andtransferred to support therefor where a series of notched wheels areemployed to engage the upper edge of the folded paper and turn the paperfor movement to a further processing station of the machine. A series ofspring biased, cam controlled presser fingers are employed inconjunction with the notched wheels to maintain the once folded paper inproper folded configuration until the notched wheels can engage,commence turning and shift the paper toward the next station. Themachine of the above patent also has structure for placing a protectivewrapper about the paper and which is directed under each paper as it isconveyed to the first folding station. The wrapper is normally largerthan the paper before folding so that a trailing edge is left after thefirst fold is formed in the paper, to provide a tail which may be foldedover the exposed edge of the once folded paper to increase the moistureintegrity of the final wrap. The notched wheels previously mentionedoperate to fold the trailing edge of the Wrapper over the once foldedpaper and as the presser fingers function to hold the paper in foldedcondition and the wrapper against the paper.

It can be appreciated that if the wrapper is somewhat longer thannormal, is not properly moved under the paper as it is directed to thefirst folding station or is not properly aligned with the paper for anyother reason, a trailing edge can be left which is of such length thatupon folding of such edge over the paper by the notched wheels, thewrapper trailer is also folded down over the presser fingers and preventthe same from returning to normal under the spring bias thereon. Sincethe fingers are not permitted to return to standby, the next foldedpaper directed downwardly by the tucker blade ultimately engages thepresser fingers and causes a jam-up of the folded papers since thepresser fingers are never allowed to return to normal until the machinehas been stopped and cleared. This obviously is an unsatisfactoryarrangement in regard to the equipment, the use of which is justifiedmainly on the saving of time and manpower.

A related problem can also occur when an accessory newspaper hopper ofthe type shown in US. Patent No. 3,255,569 is used in conjunction withthe machine of US. Patent No. 3,161,000. In this instance only one thirdof the newspaper is folded over the remainder thereof and the notchedwheels then operate to fold the trailing third of the paper over theinitial folded part thereof. Again the presser fingers serve to hold thepaper in folded condition until the notched wheels can complete theinitial folding operation. If the transfer of a paper from the accessoryhopper is improper, or if the first fold is not formed in exactly theright manner, the trailer of the once folded paper can be, under certaincircumstances, sufficiently long to be folded over the presser fingersbefore they can return under the spring pressure thereon as previouslydescribed and cause a jam-up of the machine as subsequent papers arefirst folded and then directed to ward the support trough associatedwith the notched wheels and presser fingers.

Even in those instances where folding apparatus of the general typeshown in US. Patent No. 3,161,000 is used to fold a newspaper in thirdsrather than in half (a function of the disposition of the newspaperstops on the first folding station tucker blade platform), the problemof jamming of the machine can occur if the trailer after initial foldingis long enough to be folded over in trapping relationship to the presserfingers upon operation of the notched wheels to further fold the paper.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provideimproved presser finger structure for use on newspaper folding machinesof the general type shown in the above referenced patents and which willnot be held by the trailer of the newspaper or wrapper if it is too longafter initial folding of the paper to thereby preclude jamming of themachine or damage to the papers.

Another important object of the invention is to provide improved presserfinger structure for holding the paper in folded condition, with orwithout a wrapper thereover, until the notched wheels previouslydescribed can function, and wherein the fingers are capable of providingproper pressure on the folded paper during normal operation of themachine but which will flex in the opposite direction if they becometrapped under a paper or wrapper trailer, to an extent to cause thefingers to be withdrawn from under such trailer during continuedoperation of the machine and thereby precluding jamming of the mechanismeven under adverse operating conditions.

As a corollary to the foregoing object, it is an important aim of theinstant invention to provide such a finger having a pair of oppositelybending knuckles and springs for yieldably biasing the knuckles into anormal position to the end that the finger will yield to a force appliedon either side thereof and then return to its normal position after theforce is removed.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a plurality of our novel fingers and themechanism for mounting the fingers in a manner to employ the concepts ofthe instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, usingdashed lines to illustrate the action of the fingers in response to adownward force applied at the end of a respective finger;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating theaction of the fingers in response to an upward force applied at the endof a respective finger;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevational views on reduced scale of the pertinentportions of a paper-handling machine finishing the folding of a wrapperaround a folded composite unit under normal conditions; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are elevational views similar to FIGS. 4 and illustratingthe action of the finger after having been overlapped.

The numeral 10 broadly designates the folding station of apaper-handling machine which operates substantially in the mannerdisclosed in US. Patent No. 3,161,000. Although not shown in thedrawings hereof but clearly illustrated in the above patent, a hopperfor receiving a plurality of newspapers in stacked relationship isprovided in association with folding structure 12 provided at station10. A newspaper 14 having a number of leaves is shown positioned on theplatform of station 10 in disposition to be folded in half by tuckerblade assembly 16. Structure 12 in addition includes a set ofhorizontally spaced notched wheels 18 serving as folding cams, a set ofrollers 20, a series of rollers 22, guide fingers 24, and a foldednewspaper receiving trough 26.

The machine is also preferably capable of delivering a protectivewrapper leaf designated 14c to the station 10 in underlying relationshipto the leaves of the newspaper 14, and to ensure full protection for thepaper. The wrapper is somewhat larger to provide a trailer which iswrapped over the exposed edge of the once folded paper by notched wheels18 as is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 6. The cams 18, as they continuerotating, transfer the unit 14a away from the folding station 19 as canbe seen in FiG. 5. The foregoing components and their mode of operationare completely and adequately disclosed in US. Patent 3,161,000 and itis believed that further description in this specification isunnecessary.

Finger means in the nature of a series of presser fingers are providedadjacent structure 12 for contacting the face 14d of the folded unit 14aat a zone of contact 142 spaced from the fold 14b for maintaining theunit 14a in folded condition by pressing the unit 14a against the guides24 while structure 12 operates to fold the trailer of wrapper 14c overface 14d. Fingers 30 are carried on a mechanism in the nature of a shaft32 for movement between a standby position as shown in FlG. 5 and anoperative position shown in FIG. 4.

Shaft 32 has an arm 34 thereon disposed for engaging a cam surface 28aon a cam 28 and the shaft 32 is rotated clockwise whenever cam 28 isrotated to cause surface 28a to contact arm 34. Thus, the fingers 30 aremoved positively into contact with zone 14c.

Each finger 30 has a length 36 with a free end 38 positioned to engagezone 14e of unit 14a and an elongated element 44). A hinge pin 42 isprovided for swingably mounting the other end 44 of length 36 on oneterminus 46 of element Length 36 is swingable about pin 42 in a verticalplane, viewing FIGS. 2 and 3.

First stop means in the nature of a tab 48 on one end 44 of length 36,and a shelf 40 on terminus 46 of element 40 cooperate for preventing thelength 36 from swinging about pin 42 in a counterclockwise directionbeyond the solid line position shown in FIG. 2. An arm 52 extendsupwardiy and perpendicularly from length 36 presenting a free end 54while an car 56 is provided on element 40 at the other terminus 58thereof. Coil spring 60 has one end 62 thereof attached to end 54 andthe other end 64 of spring 60 is attached to car 56. Thus, it can beseen, viewing FIG. 2, that the length 36 is yieldably biased about pin4-2 in a counterclockwise direction with tab 48 engaging shelf 50.

Shaft 32 is elongated and transversely square, thereby presenting a pairof opposed faces 66 and 68, and an oblong plate 70 is provided for eachfinger 30 on shaft 32. Plate 70 has a pair of extremities 72 and 74 andis disposed to extend laterally of shaft 32 with face 66 of the latterbeing connected to plate '70 between extremities 72 and 74 thereof. Anelement 40 is disposed in contact with face 68 in spaced relationshipwith respect to a plate 70 and extends substantially parallel therewith.

Second stop means 76, including a rod 78, is provided for limiting theclockwise rotation of element 40 about a 4 fulcrum 80 provided by theinterengagement of element 40 and face 68 of shaft 32. Rod 78 extendsfrom extremity 74 of plate and toward the terminus '58 of element 40. Anaperture 82 in terminus 58 receives rod 78, and a head 84 on rod 78 isdisposed to engage terminus 5'8 adjacent aperture 82.

Bias means in the nature of a compression spring 86 is provided forbiasing the element about fulcrum in a clockwise direction as can beseen in FIG. 3. Element 46 has an opening 88 therein adjacent terminus46. An elongated sprin uide 90 extends from extremity 72 of plate 70through opening 88 and has an arcuate portion 92. Portion 92 has akeeper 94 at the free end 96 thereof, and spring 86 extends coaxiallywith the portion 92 bet-ween keeper 94 and element 40. Thus, it can beseen that spring 86 biases element 40 in a clockwise direction aroundfulcrum 88 until head 84 contacts terminus 58 of element 40 thereonadjacent aperture 82 therein.

Finger 39 when considering its action with respect to shaft 32 therebypresents a pair of yielding knuckles 98, one of which breaks'in aclockwise direction, while the other breaks in a counterclockwisedirection. The action provided by the knuckles 98 allows the outerfinger member or length 36 of the finger 30 to be withdrawn from betweenwrapper 14c and zone 14e of the folded newspaper if the trailer ofwrapper is of sufficient length to tend to trap the finger member 36thereunder as the wrapper 140 is folded over the face 140? by structure12 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

It is to be noted that the end 38 of length 36 is swingable in a planeperpendicular to face 14d about the axis of pin 42 and about the axis offulcrum S0 for respectively escaping from beneath the trailer of wrapper140 if the latter is sufiiciently long to tend to trap end 38thereunder, and for preventing stressing of the shaft 32 when the end 38is engaged with zone 14s of the folded unit 14a.

Although the detailed description above has been restricted to use ofthe improved presser fingers 3t and structure for operating the same, itis to be understood that the improved presser fingers have importantusage as well in the folding of newspapers in thirds and wherein thereis a possibility of the trailing portion of each of the papers beingfolded over the presser fingers.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a paper handling machine for folding a plurality of paper sheetsin stacked relationship into a composite unit of greater thickness andincluding structure at a folding station for folding said stack along aline of fold causing a portion of at least one of the sheets to extendbeyond one edge of the folded unit, thereafter folding said portion oversaid edge of the unit into overlying relationship thereto, and thentransferring the folded unit away from said station, the combinationwith said structure of:

a finger member positioned to engage said folded unit at a zone ofcontact thereon spaced from said line of fold for maintaining said unitin folded condition as said portion is folded over said edge; meansmounting said finger member for movement in a plane generallyperpendicular with respect to said folded unit and in a direction toeffect withdrawal of the finger member from beneath said portion if thelatter is of suificient length to tend to trap the finger memberthereunder as the portion is folded over said edge into said overlyingrelationship to the unit by said structure during operation thereof;means coupled with said finger member and yieldably biasing the latterin the opposite direction; and

stop means on said mounting means and said finger member for preventingthe latter from moving in said opposite direction under the action ofsaid biasing means beyond a predetermined normal position of the fingermember.

2. In a paper machine for folding a plurality of paper leaves in stackedrelationship into an at least doubly thick composite unit and havingstructure at a folding station for folding said leaves along a line offold leaving a portion of at least one leaf extending beyond the foldedunit, thereafter folding said portion into overlapping relationship withrespect to said folded unit, and then transferring the folded unit awayfrom said station, the combination with said structure of:

finger means having a length with a free end positioned to engage saidfolded unit at a zone of contact there on spaced from said line of foldfor maintaining said unit in folded condition while said structureoperates to fold said portion into said overlapping relationship, and asupport element provided with first pivot means mounting the other endof said length for swinging of the latter about a first axis and in aplane generally perpendicular with respect to said folded unit;

first means yieldably biasing said length to cause the latter to tend toswing on said element and away from said folded unit;

first stop means on said length and said element for preventing saidlength from swinging on said element, in response to the force exertedthereon by the first bias means, beyond a certain point; mechanismprovided with second pivot means mounting said element for swingingmovement in said plane about a second axis spaced from said first axis;

second means yieldably biasing said element to cause the latter to tendto swing on said mechanism and toward said folded unit; and

second stop means on said element and said mechanism for preventing saidelement from swinging on said mechanism, in response to the forceexerted thereon by the second bias means, beyond another certain point,whereby said one end is swingable in said plane about two separate axesfor respectively escaping from beneath the portion if the latter issufficiently long to tend to trap said one end thereunder and preventingstressing of said mechanism when said one end is engaged with saidfolded unit.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said mechanism includes anelongated, transversley square shaft presenting a pair of opposed facesand an oblong plate having a pair of extremities and extending laterallyof said shaft, one of said faces being connected to said plate betweenthe extremities of the latter, said element being elongated and disposedin contact with the other of said faces in spaced relationship withrespect to said plate and extending substantially parallel with respectto the latter,

said first pivot means including a hinge pin mounting said length onsaid element, said first stop means including a tab on said other end ofthe length and a shelf on one terminus of said element adjacent said pindisposed to engage said tab as the length is swung about said pin bysaid first bias means,

said first bias means including an arm extending laterally from saidlength, a coil spring with one end thereof attached to the free end ofsaid arm, and ear means connecting the other end of said spring to saidelement,

said second stop means comprising a rod extending from one extremity ofsaid plate and toward the other terminus of said element, said elementhaving an aperture therein at said other terminus receiving said rod,said other face of said shaft presenting a fulcrum for said element toswing about in response to the force exerted thereon by said second biasmeans to define said second pivot means, there being provided a head onsaid rod disposed to engage said other terminus adjacent said apertureas the element is swung about said fulcrum by said second bias means,

said second bias means having an elongated spring guide with an arcuateportion extending from the other extremity of said plate and toward saidelement, said element having an opening therein receiving said guidewith the arcuate portion disposed on the opposite side of said elementfrom said plate, there being provided a keeper on the free end of saidarcuate portion and an arcuately extending compression spring disposedcoaxially with respect to said portion and extending between said keeperand said element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,161,000 12/1964 Hannon et a1.53--120 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

P. V. WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

